Chinese human rights lawyer's detention 'absurd'

The lawyer of a prominent Chinese human rights attorney detained in Beijing said Saturday that the allegations against his client, who has been charged with disrupting public service, were "absurd".

Yu Wensheng was seized as he left his Beijing apartment to walk his child to school by roughly a dozen people, including a SWAT team, sources told AFP on Friday.

Hours before his detention, Yu had circulated an open letter calling for five reforms to China's constitution, including the institution of multi-candidate presidential elections.

"We believe detaining lawyer Yu for the 'suspected crime of disrupting public service' is absurd," said Huang Hanzhong, Yu's lawyer.

"Lawyer Yu's publishing of this recommendation letter on the internet is within his rights as a citizen, it is not illegal," his lawyer said.

Police have not allowed Yu to meet his lawyer or family since he has been detained and had searched his office, Huang said.

While Yu is in detention, police and prosecutors will likely gather evidence and decide whether or not to bring the case to trial.